Heavy police activity on North Patrick Street and in Dublin Wednesday, Dec. 17 led to the arrest of five individuals in yet another suspected fraudulent check cashing scheme.
According to information released by Dublin Police Chief Cameron Ray, at approximately 1:08 p.m. Wednesday DPD officers responded to a call in the area of North Patrick Street. As the investigation developed, officers detained multiple individuals at various locations throughout the city. A vehicle believed to be associated with the activity was stopped near the northern city limits of Dublin, and additional individuals were located following a foot pursuit.
During the investigation, officers recovered suspected forged checks, fraudulent information documents and cash believed to be a result of fraudulent activity. Investigators confirmed that the checks involved were not authorized by the issuing business.
According to Ray, the department recovered over $25,000 in fraudulent checks that they had not cashed and they estimate about $15,000 was cashed prior to the suspects being apprehended.
“Based upon previous investigations we have evidence to suggest that they are linked to a large scale organized crime operation in Houston that commits all levels of offences from assaults to home invasions to car jackings to narcotics distribution. They use fraudulent schemes such as this to fund their illegal enterprises,” he said.
During the investigation, DISD was temporarily placed in a shelter-in-place as a precautionary safety measure, but at no time was there a known or credible threat to students or staff. Once the situation was stabilized, the shelter-inplace order was lifted.
The following Houstonarea individuals were arrested in connection with the investigation: Francisco Antonio Ramos, 34; Diego Barrientos, 24; Edger Mauricio, 28; Juan Ornelas, 50; Daneri Rodriguez, 19; Miguel Romero, 28. An additional 16-year-old from Houston was also taken into custody, but juveniles are not identified.
The Erath County Sheriff’s Office, Erath County Constable Jason Schipper, Texas DPS, Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department assisted in apprehending the suspects.
The investigation is being conducted jointly by the Dublin Police Department, DPS and the U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Services.
Another fraudulent check cashing ring occurred earlier this year with multiple arrests being made in conjunction with the case between Dublin, Stephenville and ECSO.